Packers’ Painful Collapse in Denver Could Be a Turning Point in Their Season
The Green Bay Packers walked into Denver riding a four-game win streak and left with more than just a loss. A 34-26 defeat to the Broncos at Mile High wasn't just a stumble - it was the kind of game that can change the trajectory of a season.
Green Bay gave up a 23-14 second-half lead, watched two of its most critical players go down with injuries, and saw its playoff positioning take a serious hit. The final score tells part of the story.
The rest? That’s where things get complicated - and concerning.
Let’s break down what went right, what went wrong, and what this means for a Packers team that suddenly finds itself at a crossroads.
What Went Right
Jordan Love’s First-Half Clinic
Before things unraveled, Jordan Love was in complete command.
He came out firing, completing 17 of 21 passes for 215 yards and a touchdown in the first half. The Packers scored on their first four possessions, and Love looked like a quarterback in full rhythm.
The timing, the confidence, the decision-making - it was all there. This was the version of Love that had Packers fans dreaming big.
Josh Jacobs Gutting It Out
Playing through a right knee injury, Josh Jacobs showed why toughness still matters.
He racked up 92 total yards and punched in two key scores. His ability to grind out tough yards and finish drives helped the Packers build their early lead - and gave the offense a physical edge.
Edgerrin Cooper’s Late-Game Grit
Even as the game slipped away, Edgerrin Cooper kept battling.
He broke up a fourth-down pass and made a tackle for loss on another fourth-down attempt in the fourth quarter, giving the Packers a shot to stay in it. Eight tackles, two for loss, and a pass breakup - Cooper’s stat line tells the story of a player who refused to quit.
Run Defense Shows Up
Green Bay’s run defense quietly had one of its better outings.
The Broncos were held to just 2.9 yards per carry and didn’t manage a single run over eight yards. In a game where the pass defense faltered, the front seven at least held the line against the run.
Matthew Golden Flashes First-Round Talent
The rookie wideout had a few moments that reminded everyone why he was a first-round pick.
Golden drew a key pass interference flag on a scoring drive and added catches of 27, 18, and 11 yards - the last one converting a third down. In a receiving corps that may now be without Christian Watson, Golden’s emergence couldn’t be more timely.
What Went Wrong
The Turning Point: Watson’s Deep Ball
Everything changed after Jordan Love took a deep shot to Christian Watson with 12:46 left in the third quarter.
The offense stalled, the protection broke down, and the defense lost its edge. That moment marked the beginning of a collapse that the Packers couldn’t recover from.
Offensive Line Woes Without Zach Tom
Once Zach Tom exited, the protection took a nosedive.
Love didn’t have the same time in the pocket, and the passing game sputtered - especially after Christian Watson left the game. The line couldn’t hold up, and the offense paid the price.
No Parsons, No Pressure
Micah Parsons’ absence was felt immediately.
Without him, the Packers couldn’t generate a pass rush. Bo Nix had a clean pocket all afternoon, completing 23 passes for 304 yards and four touchdowns.
He wasn’t sacked, didn’t turn the ball over, and finished with a near-perfect 134.7 passer rating. The defense managed just three QB hits - not nearly enough to disrupt a rookie quarterback.
Red Zone Efficiency Tells the Story
The Broncos were perfect in the red zone, going 4-for-4 with touchdowns.
The Packers? Just 1-for-4, settling for three short field goals.
That’s a 12-point swing in a game decided by eight. In close games, red zone execution is often the difference - and it was here.
Sutton Shreds the Secondary
Courtland Sutton had himself a day, torching Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine for seven catches, 113 yards, and a touchdown. The Packers’ cornerbacks couldn’t keep up, and Sutton made them pay repeatedly, especially in key moments.
Love’s Costly Turnovers
Love gave his receivers chances to make plays, but the throws weren’t perfect - and the Broncos capitalized.
One deep ball to Watson turned into a pick. Another throw behind Dontayvion Wicks was also intercepted.
Denver turned those two takeaways into seven points. Green Bay managed just three off their lone takeaway.
That four-point swing loomed large.
Penalties and Missed Opportunities
Ten penalties for 72 yards - that’s the kind of self-inflicted damage that kills momentum.
Rasheed Walker was flagged four times alone. And when the Packers had two chances to tie the game in the fourth quarter, they came up empty both times.
One drive ended with a fourth-down sack. The next?
A pressured throw on 4th-and-15 that didn’t have a chance.
Xavier McKinney’s Almost Moments
McKinney had three passes defensed, but he also missed two chances for game-changing interceptions. One of those came just before Micah Parsons went down with a non-contact injury - a moment that felt like the air went out of the defense.
What It Means
This wasn’t just a loss. It was a gut punch that could reshape the Packers’ season.
At 9-4-1, Green Bay is still in playoff position, but the division lead is gone, and the injury report is brutal. Christian Watson and Micah Parsons are two of the most irreplaceable players on the roster.
Watson had become the vertical threat that made this offense dangerous. Parsons?
He’s the heartbeat of the defense. Take both away, and the Packers suddenly look a lot more vulnerable.
The math says they may only need one more win to punch a postseason ticket. But winning the NFC North just got a lot harder.
And imagining this team going on the road and winning three playoff games without Watson and Parsons? That’s a steep hill to climb.
This was a team on the rise - young, confident, and gaining momentum at the right time. Now, it feels like the rug just got pulled out from under them.
What’s Next
There’s no time to dwell. The Packers have to regroup quickly and head into Chicago for a Saturday night showdown with the Bears at Soldier Field.
The Bears are coming off a win, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. If Green Bay wants any shot at winning the division and hosting a playoff game, this is a must-win.
It’s gut-check time. The road just got tougher, but the season isn’t over. Not yet.